The Leader of the Council is Anne Western, and heads a cabinet consisting of five other members – those being Jim Coyle, Paul Smith, Dave Allen, Dean Collins, and Andy Botham. The six cabinet members each have responsibility for particular functions of the council and are assisted by Deputy Cabinet Members. The Chief Executive is Ian Stephenson who was appointed in 2013 having previously served as the Strategic Director of Environmental Services.[2] and heads the Council's 35,000 strong workforce.[3]

The opposition Leader, Cllr Barry Lewis, as the role suggests, felt he could not adequately represent the views of his political Group by being within the Cabinet and being complicite in their decisions, which would dilute his and his party's ability to provide strong and effective opposition.